The pros and cons of playing fun games to make math fun

Sometimes it seems that 21st century students expect to be entertained rather than taught. Teachers worry that bringing math games into their classroom might satisfy that instead of promoting healthy learning. Playing fun games becomes a problem when they are used as a reward or as a game for the sake of playing and are not incorporated into the lesson. This article looks at the pros and cons of developing effective ways to make math fun by using fun games as part of your daily lessons.

Here are the benefits of using fun math games as part of daily lessons:

1. Children think they are getting away with something, when in fact they are reviewing and reinforcing facts and concepts. You can keep their interest while you work hard.
2. The students are not stupid, they know that they are still doing work, but if they have the option they prefer to do a fun activity than boring exercises. Motivation is key to learning and games are motivating!
3. Playing fun games builds cooperative learning when you break into small groups to play the games. Games encourage positive interaction among students.
4. Multi-sensory reinforcement with seeing, saying and doing is built into the gaming experience. You “see, hear and say” while playing an educational game, manipulating pieces and often cards as well.
5. Playing a few full games in the classroom to make math fun gives students a break and allows them to move around a bit; Activate their sensors!

Here are some disadvantages of using math games in your daily lessons:

1. Games create too much emphasis on winning. It only takes one poor loser to ruin the activity for the whole class.
2. It takes too long to learn the rules and organize in small groups.
3. Your classroom doesn’t have mobile desks to make some mini tables to play these board games.
4. There will be an active noise level, a buzz in the room and you think silence is golden.
5. The teacher’s preparation time is initially increased to print the sets and laminate them if necessary.

Once the materials are created or purchased and then arranged in the most convenient way, and once the basic rules of the games are learned, children will be able to move the desks and prepare to play fun activities in no time. They want to participate, so they will move quickly. There is no better reinforcement process than multisensory activities. Using these types of printable games and activities will not only provide multi-sensory reinforcement, but also provide great ways to make math fun and educational at the same time. You can’t go wrong.